A spectacular live production to celebrate the 49th UAE National Day will take place on December 2 and will be broadcast to an audience of millions in the UAE and beyond.
Named ‘Seeds of the Union’, the dramatic show has been produced by world-class local and international creatives, and will take the form of a moving sculpture surrounded by sea and illuminated by digital visuals portraying themes inspired by the UAE’s history and values. The show will follow the growth of a seed into a shoot and finally into full bloom, artistically portraying the journey the UAE has taken over the past 49 years.
A show of hope and optimism, the remarkable production embraces the country’s rich legacy and traditions and looks ahead to a vivid future in which we remain true to our values.
Together, we will recognise 49 years of unity between the seven emirates and embrace the country’s spirit and resilience.
Khalfan Al Mazrouei, member of the organising committee of the Official 49th UAE National Day Celebration, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic required us to approach the official 49th UAE National Day celebrations in a new and ambitious way — one that uses digital visual technology to inspire an audience watching from home.“
Theme
“The narrative of the show artistically revolves around the growth and transformation of a seed into a shoot and then finally into full bloom, mirroring the journey the UAE has taken in the last 49 years,” Al Mazrouei added.
Live broadcast
The nation will watch on television and online as a live visual extravaganza follows themes based on the UAE’s values, and ambitions for the future. It will pay a moving tribute to the UAE’s Founding Fathers, whose long-term vision of harmony and solidarity led to the formal unification of the UAE.
Register to watch the broadcast
The production was designed by a team of Emiratis and artistic director Es Devlin, known for creating large-scale performative sculptures and environments that fuse music, language and light. She designed the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics and the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
